A CLAMPING company forced a man to leave his own father's funeral so he could release his partner's car.

Bonnie Huwes-Davies, of Woodland Road, Loughton, had been driving to the funeral of her partner's father when she stopped off at HRH florists in Loughton High Road to pick up some flowers.

When she emerged minutes later, parking firm Secure-A-Space had already clamped her car and an officer demanded £110 on the spot to release it.

Ms Huwes-Davies said: “I knew you couldn't park there, but I needed flowers for the funeral. It was just for loading. I'd have left the engine running but I feel nervous about doing that.

“It was obvious I was running into the florists. I saw them watching in a van, but it was unmarked so I didn't think they were anything official.

“I ran out with the flowers. I must have been not even three minutes and there was a clamp on my car. I was shocked. I said: 'I'm going to a funeral now.'

“He said he couldn't do anything about the clamp now it was on. If I didn't pay they'd have to take it away and that'd be another £500.”

With no money on her to pay, Ms Huwes-Davies was forced to phone her partner David Thorp, who was already at his father David's funeral, for help.

She said: “My partner phoned them up and said 'Look I'm at my father's funeral can you not do this?' We offered to pay over the phone but they said you have to be there in person.

“I had to get a friend to pick me up. I went to the funeral then we had more calls saying people have surrounded the car. We said 'Can we not deal with this later? We just can't do this at the moment.'

“My partner had to leave the funeral to pay for the car. I can't believe a human being could do that to anyone. I was stressed enough as it was. I was really in a state.”

Mr Thorp paid the clamping firm £110 and his partner's car was eventually released.

A spokesman for Secure-A-Space said: “The lady had just left her car in the middle of the road, and unfortunately it was clamped. The officers wouldn't know she'd gone to the shop. They would just see the parked car.

“They're just doing what they're asked to. This is a private area and a private car park. That road is narrow and lorries make deliveries like clockwork. They get very upset if they have to wait.

“She can appeal against it and those appeals are taken seriously.”